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QinetiQ shows SPO stand-off threat detection system in Australia

QinetiQ is showing the SPO stand-off threat detection system in Australia for the first time at the Security in Government (SiG) 2015 conference and exhibition at the National Convention Centre in Canberra. Hosted by the Australian Attorney-General's Department, hundreds of Australian Government agency security advisers and private sector security practitioners will get their first up close look at SPO-7R and learn about QinetiQ’s plans for the next generation SPO-NX that will be available in early 2016.

The SPO series of Passive Millimetre Wave (PMMW) scanners are used to identify security threats in densely populated locations, such as bus, ferry, rail or airport terminals. Each scanning unit works passively by sensing naturally occurring energy from individuals and the objects they are carrying. This signature information is processed to detect suspicious items around their person. Suspicious objects trigger a red threat bar response on the user display, prompting the operator to search the individual or initiate further security protocols.

Will Taylor, QinetiQ Australia General Manager for Government, Technology and Industry, said, “We are excited to show this technology for the first time to an Australian audience. We believe SPO has many potential applications in the security market here because it requires no special infrastructure, can be deployed virtually anywhere and set-up by one operator in less than five minutes and it does not impede or slow the flow pedestrian traffic. SPO can screen a moving person in less than two to three seconds.”

Colin Cameron, technical project lead for the SPO series of sensors, who is demonstrating the system throughout SiG 2015, said, “The SPO system is passive, doesn’t emit any radiation and never creates or displays an image of bodily characteristics beneath a person’s clothing alleviating privacy concerns. What the operator sees on the screen is real-time video footage with a red-to-green overlay. Green is when no threat is present and red indicates where a potential threat might be concealed.”

The introduction of SPO into Australia is complementary to QinetiQ Australia’s existing security and safety consulting line of business that specialises in providing protective security, security risk assessments, security assurance, national security, security technology systems and Work Health and Safety advisory services to Australian Government agencies and entities.

QinetiQ Australia has been attending SiG since 2013 and is one of more than 90 security-related service providers exhibiting at the conference.

Notes for Editors:

A FTSE250 company, QinetiQ uses its world class knowledge, research and innovation to provide high-end technical expertise and advice, to customers in the global aerospace, defence and security markets. QinetiQ's unique position enables it to be a trusted partner to government organisations, predominantly in the UK and the US, including defence departments as well as other international customers in targeted sectors.

As part of the QinetiQ company, QinetiQ Australia has more than 250 specialist staff located across Australia who use their know-how to deliver trusted and impartial advice and services to Australian defence and government organisations across air, land, maritime, government and technology domains.

SiG began in 1987 and is a gathering or public and private sector security experts. It is targeted at senior executives responsible for managing security in Australian Government agencies, officers from all levels of the Australian Government who contribute to the development of security capability and response, security practitioners from the public and private sectors who provide services to government and critical infrastructure providers For more information visit http://www.ag.gov.au/NationalSecurity/SecurityGovernmentConference